CVE-2023-47200 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Trend Micro Apex One, a widely used endpoint security solution. The vulnerability arises from a plug-in manager origin validation flaw within the Apex One security agent, specifically affecting version 2019 (14.0). This flaw allows a local attacker, who already has the capability to execute low-privileged code on the target system, to escalate their privileges. The vulnerability is linked to CWE-346, which refers to insufficient verification of origin, indicating that the plug-in manager does not properly validate the source of plug-ins or commands it processes. This can be exploited to bypass security controls and gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges, manipulate security settings, or disable protections. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with the attack vector being local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the critical role of Apex One in endpoint protection and the potential for privilege escalation to compromise entire systems or networks. It is also noted that this vulnerability is similar but not identical to CVE-2023-47201, suggesting a related class of issues in the plug-in management mechanism.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-47200 could be substantial. Trend Micro Apex One is commonly deployed in enterprise environments to protect endpoints from malware and other cyber threats. Successful exploitation would allow attackers with initial low-level access—potentially gained through phishing, malware, or insider threats—to escalate privileges and gain control over security agents. This could lead to disabling or circumventing endpoint defenses, facilitating further lateral movement, data exfiltration, or deployment of ransomware. Confidentiality is at high risk as attackers could access sensitive corporate data; integrity could be compromised by tampering with security configurations or logs; and availability could be affected if security services are disabled or systems are destabilized. Given the critical nature of endpoint security in regulatory compliance frameworks like GDPR, exploitation could also lead to legal and reputational consequences. The local attack vector means that internal threat actors or attackers who have breached perimeter defenses pose the greatest risk. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the threat level, as exploitation can be automated once local code execution is achieved.

European organizations should prioritize patching or upgrading Trend Micro Apex One installations to versions where this vulnerability is addressed, once patches are released by Trend Micro. Until patches are available, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit the ability of users and processes to execute low-privileged code on endpoints, including application whitelisting and endpoint privilege management. Monitoring and alerting for unusual privilege escalation attempts or anomalous behavior related to the Apex One agent should be enhanced. Restricting local administrative privileges and employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, organizations should review and harden plug-in management configurations within Apex One to ensure only trusted sources are allowed. Conducting regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on local privilege escalation vectors can identify potential exploitation paths. User training to reduce the risk of initial low-privileged code execution (e.g., through phishing) is also critical. Finally, maintaining comprehensive backups and incident response plans will mitigate damage if exploitation occurs.